Display device



P 1933. I N. A. AREND 2,129,519

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Oct. 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. I-.

Inventor:

Sept. 6, 1938.

N. A. AREND! DISPLAY DEVICE I Filed 001;. 19, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor": Ne\son Ave Attov'heg Patented Sept. 6, 1938 PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICE Nelson A. Arend, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application October 19, 1934, Serial No. 749,034

6 Claims.

My invention relates to display devices for supporting, displaying and advertising articles of merchandise in an attractive manner.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a device of the type described having practically unlimited flexibility in the number of possible display arrangements.

According to my invention the device consists of a base member provided with a pair of removable posts at the back thereof, the upper surface of the base having arranged thereon a number of slots, a plurality of live sockets for electric lamps, and a number of holes for supporting additional lamps. The removable back posts are provided with two sets of grooves for accommodating various diplay cards or posters and a number of large headed nails or screws are arranged on these back posts for supporting key-hole slotted side pieces. base may be used for holding various diplay cards or reflector cards. The number of permissible display arrangements which may be achieved by using various combinations of these features is almost unlimited.

Further features and advantages of my invention Willappear from the following detailed description of species thereof and from the drawmgs.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a display device comprising my invention; Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the base portion. of the device; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device; Fig. 5 is an elevation of the inside face of the right hand upright post seen in Figs. 1 3; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a wiring diagram for the electrical sockets in the device; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a slightly modified base made of sheet metal; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one possible displayarrangcment; Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a portion of the rear of an upright post and a side'piece of Fig. 8 showing the method of mounting the said side piece on the post; and. Figs. 10 to 12 are perspective views of other possible display arrangements.

Referring to Figs. 1-4, the device comprises a hollow base member Ill having an upper'surface ll provided with three holes l2 extending in a line across the front thereof and located in the middle and at each side respectively. Electrical sockets l3 are disposed in the said holes [2 for the reception of incandescent lamps. Additional holes l4 are provided in line with the holes l2 for supporting additional lamps, there being a pair of holes l4 between the center hole l2 and each of the outside holes l2. Three slots l5, l6, l! are provided in front and at each side respectively of the three holes l2 for holding display cards or reflector cards. The slots [6, I1 at each side of the holes 12 may be arranged The slots on the parallel to the sides of the base I0 as shown.

Two pairs of slots I8, H! are arranged behind the of the base II]. A pair of partitions 22 (Fig. 3)

are mounted in the back of the base W at each side thereof and parallel to the sides.

A pair of removable upright posts 23 are mounted at the back and one at each side of the base ID in the sockets 24 (Fig. 3) formed by the back side 2|, the rear edge 20 of the upper surface II, the partitions 22, and the sides of said base, The inside opposing faces of said posts 23 are each provided with an elongated groove 25 extending from the top of the post to the upper surface: of the base I0, said grooves being adapted to receive a cardboard back-piece or background panel to which interchangeable paper display posters may be attached by means of spring. clips or by pasting. Interchangeable cardboard displays may also be accommodated in these grooves. An additional set (three pairs being shown) of grooves or slots 26, 21, 28 is provided on the said inner faces of the posts 23, the said slots being spaced along the said posts in opposed pairs each adjacent a groove 25. The said pairs of slots 26, 21, 28 are adapted to receive the ends of cardboard strips carrying advertising matter. Short grooves 29 (Fig. 5) are provided at the top of each of the posts 23 to receive the ends of a cross-piece 30. The backs of said posts 23 are provided with large-headed nails or screws 3| (Figs. 2 and 5) which ade adapted to support various key-hole slotted side pieces.

A portion of the back of each of the partitions 22 may be cut back to form a slot 32 (Fig. 3) so that the upright posts 23 may be withdrawn and cardboard displays inserted in the slots if desired.

The rear edge 20 of the upper surface ll of the base I0 is cut back at the middle as shown at 33 to form an opening in said surface, and a lamp 34 and reflector 35 are disposed therebelow, within the base It], to illuminate display cards arranged in the upright posts 23 or in the slots 32. The said lamp 34 is mounted in a socket 36 which is supported by a bracket 31 (Fig. 4) which may be mounted in any convenient place such as on the inside of the upper surface II, or on the back wall of the base.

As illustrated'in Fig. 6, the sockets l3 and socket 36 are preferably connected electrically in multiple so that lamps mounted therein may be illuminated singly or in any desired combination.

The base appears substantially as shown in the upper surface and the back wall 2| is not provided. Instead, an opening 33', similar to the opening 33 is provided at the rear and middle of the upper surface ll. -.A .hole 24' isprovided in said surface at each of'the back'corners to receive the end of a post 23.

Figs. 8 to 12 show only a-fewof the great-thumber of display arrangements which may be achieved with this device. lamps. 38-are mounted in the.=sockets l3..in the holes l2 .andadditio'nalslamps 39 are. mounted in the .;holes 14;...6arldboard strips 40. carrying .advertising matterhave their endsinserted in the pairs of slots 26,21, .28. in .theposts 23, the said strips .40 being bowed out as shown in the. drawings. Side. pieces .4 l ,.respresenting.the outlines of a Christmas tree,.are mounted on the upright posts 23. Thesaid side .pieces' 4| aremounted on the pinseor nails..3I-.on.the back -.of..the posts ,23 by;-means .of key-hole slots Alas illustrated in Fig. 9.

-In Fig. .10,.the three.lam'ps 38 are used in con junctionwith individual reflectors 43 to. illuminate a poster consisting of an illustrated paper sheet (not shown)v mountedmna background panel consisting of .a.car.dboard sheet 144 .located in the grooves 25in .the.,upright po-stsu23. The. paper poster may be clipped-to the cardboard sheet .44 at the topandbottomby clips 45. The poster.may be further..illuminatedbythelamp 34 (Fig.,4) in the base 10. Various typesanddesigns ofside pieces may also be .arranged .on..the backs ofthe posts .23 .togetherwith. or without .the center poster on the cardboardisheet 4.4.

-. Fig. 1-1 representsa scenic.display-comprisinga poster sheet. 45. clippedontothe cardboardsheet 44 .(not shown)...and removable cardboard scenic pieces -46,. 4.1,..48..having .tabs which are inserted i n.,the slots l5, l8, .ISlFigs. landd) respectively. The displaymaybe illuminated'bylamps34 and 38 v(Figs. .4 and .8.)..

,Fig. 12 represents an-arrangementin which the uprightaposts 23 havebeen removed. and a cardboard..display piece :AS-hasbeen inserted in the slots 32; at .the; back of thebase J0. ..Another.display piece.5.0.- extendsacrossthe, front .of. said base l0, being held by means of tabs thereon insertedintheislots .15 -.(Figs. 1 and l) .This displaymay also. be illuminated.

.It .willbe apparent froma. viewing of Figs. 8 to .12.-thatthe number ofdifferent possible .arrangements of displays is practically unlimited, the-said.figuresillustrating onlya few of them.

Whatl ,claimasnew and desire .to-secure by Letters Patentv of the United .States is:

.1. ,,A display. device comprising av hollow base, a. pair, .of .spaced .upright posts. .mounted at the backof. said base, a--groove in each of .the opposing inner faces of said .posts, extending from the top. thereof .substantiallyto ,thegupper surface ofsaid base andadapted .to receive a background panel,.a.plurality .of...pins. secured to and spaced along the back surfaces of said posts, removable side pieces, supported by said pinsthe upper surface of said base havingan opening at the rear and. substantially .at ,the middle thereof, .and a lamp .insaidbase below saidopening adapted to illuminate said background panel.

In Fig. 8, incandescent a=plurality of pairs of opposed relatively short slots; located at spaced intervals along said posts adjacent the edges of said grooves and adapted 'to receivethe ends of cardboard strips, the upper surfaceb'f said base having an opening at the rear andsubstantially at the middle thereof, and.

.a lamp in said .basebelow said opening adapted to illuminate said background panel.

"3. A'display device comprising a hollow base, a pair of .spaced upright posts mounted at the 'backof said base, a groove in each of the opposing inner faces of said posts extending from the top thereof substantially to the upper. surface of. said base andadapted to receive a background paneLtheuppersurfaceof said base having an opening at the rear .and substantially at the middle thereof,..a. lamp in .said base below .said opening adapted -to-.illuminate said background panel, and a plurality .of .rows of slots in the said upper surfaceadapted to receive interchangeable cardboarddisplays.

A. A display device comprising a.ho1low..base, a pair of spaced upright .posts.mounted...at the back ofsaid-base, a groovein each of the opposinginner faces. .ofsaid- .posts extending. from the top thereof. substantially .to. .the. upper. surface .of saidbase. and adapted to receive a'background panel aplurality of.,.pairs of -.opposed relatively short slots :locatedat spacedintervals along said .posts adjacent the edges :of .said grooves and adapted .to receive the ends of .cardboard .strips, andaa .lampmounted-in said base for. illuminating said background panel.

5.. .A display device .comprisinga hollowbase, a :pairof spaced .upright posts mounted at the backofsaid base,.a groove in:each of.the opposing inner faces of said posts extending from the top thereof .substantially-mo..the. upper surface ofsaid base and adapted toreceive abackground panel, a. pluralitybf vpairsof opposed. relatively short slots located at spacedintervals .along said posts adjacent theedges of said. grooves and a.dapted:to .receivetheends of cardboard strips, a plurality of electric damp sockets disposed in the top-of said .basealong. theiront. edge thereof for: receiving :lamps .to.. illuminate .said background .panel, and.anpluralityofslots in the said topotsaid baselocated .adjacentsaid sockets for mounting interchangeable =display-or reflector cards in frontof saidlamps.

-6. :In a..display .device, a hollow substantially rectangular. basehaving meansat therear corners formeceivingupr-ight .-posts-adapted to support a backgroundpaneLan opening .in the upper surfaceofsaid-base. at the rear thereof, alamp disposed. below said opening for illuminating said background.panel a plurality ofzsockets for electric lamps locatedinsaid upper surface along the'front edge thereof; a plurality-of slots in said upper surface located-adjacent said sockets for mounting"interchangeable displaycards or refiectors in front of" the'lamps 'therein and a plurality of rows of slots "for receiving display cards located in said upper surface between said sockets and said post receiving means.

NELSON A. AREND. 

